Would You Run in Your Underpants?

by Jenny Hansen

Imagine running around in your underpants on Valentine’s Day weekend… Now imagine doing it with hundreds of other people. In public. Would you do that? And before you yell, “Heck, NO!“…would you do it for a wonderful cause?

One of my pals, Yelp blogger Phil Holtberg, would. I’d venture to say he’d have run in his birthday suit if it was for a charity he believes in. He’s a giver like that.

Phil is participating in Cupid’s Undie Run NYCon February 13th and he’s hoping for some help from all of you who are stuck inside with the winter weather. [Like you don’t want to imagine someone else running in the snow.]

Read on for all the deets!

When I asked him “why this run,” he said:

To give back. To do something good for those in need. I try to pick events each year that are athletic based with a charity cause attached to them.

Seems like each year now as I am getting older I am getting a bit crazier and put my body through hell more and more. The beatings are worth it though as I have raised thousands of dollars during these events, and I am truly humbled and thankful for everyone’s support.

It’s very gratifying to cross that finish line knowing I helped out if even in my own small way. All bumped, scraped, and bruised. Pain never felt so good.

Phil’s fundraising efforts so far:

Warrior Dash in 2013 for the St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital

Tough Mudder in 2014 for the Wounded Warrior Foundation

Urban Mudder in 2015 for Make A Wish

What is the cause for Cupid’s Undie Run?

It helps fund research towards NF – neurofibromatosis. 1 in 3,000 children are born with this genetic disorder. It causes tumors to grow non-stop on the nervous system, often causing deafness, blindness, disabilities and debilitating pain. You know what’s even worse? There is no cure and frighteningly few treatment options.

There are a lot of NF-focused charities out there that have different, venerable missions. Some focus on patient care, the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) focuses primarily on research and finding a cure. Cupid’s is a part of CTF, which has been a four-star rated charity from Charity Navigator for so long, that it essentially puts them in the top 2% of most effective charities in the country.

Anyone who hangs out here at More Cowbell knows Phil’s a friendly guy. He chose the Cupid’s Undie Run based on recommendations from friends. (Plus I think he wants an excuse to go streaking around NYC.)

He said, “I thought it sounded fun, had a great cause to run for, and also I wanted to try out something that combines athleticism along with some hilarity! I mean, c’mon, I’ll be running in my undies! How cool is that? Undies! I bet everyone wants to see me running almost naked. (Okay, maybe some actually don’t.)

“The bad thing is that it’s in the dead of winter, so of course I am worried about shrinkage. I better stuff in a few socks if you know what I mean.”

Note: If you would also love to run in your underpants, there are events in nearly 40 cities around the world. Their tag line: “We attract heroes, party animals, undie-lovers and the generous-as-hell. We’re fighting NF, a rare and deadly disease that affects 1 in every 3,000 births. We will win. Are you in?”

Donate to the cause and sponsor Phil by clicking here! Every dollar counts. Here’s the post he wrote about the experience.

And since enquiring minds want to know all manner of things, I asked Phil a few more questions…

Do you have an undie favorite?

Even though I sleep in the nude, I prefer low rise men’s bikini style during the day. I say, “No Way” to tighty whities or boxers. Yuck.

What is your favorite running gear?

Normally just a tight Under Armour workout muscle shirt, basketball shorts, and running shoes. But in this case? It will be undies.

How do you train for these runs?

I am a gym rat. Always have been. Weight training at least 5 days a week. Running nowadays around 3 days a week which normally includes a distance of 3.2 miles so I am basically running a 5K each time.

Funny thing is I always hated running, but to stay in shape and keep my figure in check, it’s a must. Cardio is key considering all the eating, drinking, and partying I do here in NYC. I have learned to actually like running more now – it helps to clear my mind while I listen to my music. Plus, living on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, I run along the water which offers great views.

Also, as age becomes a factor it’s crucial to keep the metabolism revved up as we get older to stay lean and fit. I gotta stay sexy for the ladies!

Whether it be $5, $50 or $5,000… all donations help and go a long way toward helping those in need. Oh yeah, and they’re tax-deductible, too.

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And there you go – a dude we love, undies and a fantastic charitable cause. It’s a trifecta of awesome. Here is the link to Phil’s fundraising page:

Happy New Year to you!

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About Jenny Hansen

By day, Jenny provides training and social media marketing for an accounting firm. By night she writes humor, memoir, women’s fiction and short stories. After 18 years as a corporate software trainer, she’s delighted to sit down while she works.

About Phil

Phil Holtberg is an advertising and sales guru with close to 20 years in the biz. With a varied background which includes stints as a certified personal trainer, bartender, small business owner, ad rep, publisher and writer, Phil brings his overall life knowledge, opinions, humor, and everyday experiences to light on his blog, The Regular Guy NYC.